FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium.
As the Jets construct what should be their most talented roster in more than a decade, it's important to note the mindset of the front office. With 39-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the team, it's a win-now mentality with a one- or two-year window. The days of rebuilding are over, so look for an older, more experienced roster than in recent years.
They have a surplus at defensive end, wide receiver and offensive tackle, which could lead to difficult personnel decisions involving DE Bryce Huff, WR Corey Davis and OT Mekhi Becton. All three are entering the final year of their contracts and none of them is assured a starting job.
The Jets' overall talent level is improved, which means better depth and greater competition. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson
There's no competition here, per se. The summer objective is to get Rodgers, who typically doesn't play in the preseason, ready for Week 1 without exposing him to potential injury. Not coincidentally, the Jets have joint practices with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; those will help.
This is an important preseason for Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 overall pick who must convince his teammates and coaches -- and perhaps even himself -- he can do the job if something happens to Rodgers. This is a new offense for Wilson, who figures to get a lot of game reps as he attempts to rebound from a disappointing year that led to his demotion. Journeyman Tim Boyle, reunited with Rodgers, can start out on the practice squad and be elevated each week as the QB3.
RUNNING BACK (4): Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, Israel Abanikanda
Free agent Dalvin Cook remains an outside possibility. Hall, nine months removed from ACL surgery on his left knee, is expected to begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. The goal is to have him ready for Week 1. If he gets any action in camp, it will be on a limited basis. Carter, Knight and Abanikanda (2023 fifth round) will get plenty of reps as they battle for the RB2 job. This is a big year for Carter, who ranked 47th out of 47 rushers in yards per carry (3.5) among those with at least 100 attempts. Nick Bawden has a shot if offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett carries a fullback, something he has done in the past.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Mecole Hardman, Corey Davis, Jason Brownlee
Wilson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is joined by newcomers Lazard, Hardman and Cobb. How Davis fits into the group is the No. 1 storyline. He's being paid like a starter ($11.2 million cap charge, third-highest on the team), but his role probably will shrink. So, too, could his paycheck; a salary reduction wouldn't be a surprise. Trade bait? They cleared a spot by trading Denzel Mims last week, which should create additional reps for Brownlee, an undrafted rookie free agent.
TIGHT END (3): Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert
The Jets saw a huge increase in their tight-end production (80 receptions, 13th in the league), and there's room for more growth, especially if Ruckert continues the improvement he showed in the spring. The coaching staff likes Kenny Yeboah because of his special-teams ability, but he's battling a numbers game. The 6-foot-7 Zack Kuntz (seventh round) needs time to develop, making him a practice-squad candidate.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Max Mitchell, Billy Turner, Mekhi Becton, Wes Schweitzer, Connor McGovern, Carter Warren
Welcome to the most competitive position group, where guards Tomlinson and Vera-Tucker are the only locked-in starters. McGovern versus Tippmann (second round) is a fascinating battle at center. The most compelling player is Becton, who reported in great shape after missing 32 straight games with knee injuries. The former first-round pick will try to unseat Brown at left tackle. Failing that, he will be on the bench. At right tackle, it's Turner versus Mitchell.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Quinnen Williams, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Al Woods, Quinton Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald IV, Bryce Huff, Solomon Thomas, Micheal Clemons
This is the deepest position group, especially at end -- Lawson, Franklin-Myers, Johnson, McDonald, Huff and Clemons. The Jets like it this way because it allows them to rotate at least nine linemen on game day. The coaches expect a big jump out of Johnson, a 2022 first-rounder. The player to watch is Huff, who led the NFL in pressure percentage (minimum: 150 pass rushes). Entering the final year of his contract, Huff is sure to attract trade interest. He and McDonald (first round) are pass-rushing specialists. How many undersized edge players can you keep?
LINEBACKER (5): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes, Hamsah Nasirildeen
The Jets used two linebackers on 61% of the snaps (their nickel package), so the third starter -- Sherwood -- is really a part-time player. He replaces Kwon Alexander, who provided a lot of the juice on defense. They're solid with Mosley and Williams, but there's a lack of depth that would be magnified by an injury. Alexander remains unsigned, so he's always an option.
CORNERBACK (6): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Justin Hardee, Bryce Hall
Same as last season. Gardner and Reed are one of the best tandems in the league, and the coaches will tell you Carter might be the most underrated player on the team. Hardee is a lock because of his special-teams prowess. Former starters Echols and Hall provide solid depth.
SAFETY (4): Jordan Whitehead, Adrian Amos, Tony Adams, Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Amos is playing catch-up, as he wasn't signed until mid-June to replace Chuck Clark, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in OTAs. Amos and Whitehead have complementary skill sets -- Amos is the free safety, Whitehead the strong -- but neither one is a ball hawk. Adams, who has better range than both of them, is a player to watch. Veteran Ashtyn Davis loses the final spot to Bernard-Converse (sixth round).
SPECIALISTS (3): Greg Zuerlein (PK), Thomas Morstead (P) and Thomas Hennessy (LS)
No young kids here and no competition. Zuerlein and Morstead have 25 years combined experience and Hennessy, one of the better long-snappers, is entering Year 7.